Math 205
Some suggestions for the student
Doing homework (including assigned reading) regularly is one of the most important things you can do to guarantee success in the course. It works much better to do a moderate amount of mathematics every day than to do a lot once or twice a week. (Even more true for graded problems!) Do your reading and your homework actively. Read with pencil and paper at hand. Expect to fill in steps yourself. Take time at the end of each study session or class to review important points. If necessary, do extra problems to reinforce important ideas.
Whatever you do, get an early start on the graded problems, work steadily on them, and don't be discouraged if you don't see at first just how a problem is going to work out.
Working with other people is not only more fun--it is often more productive than working alone. Identify people that you "talk calculus with". Make a habit of getting together regularly to talk over homework or assigned readings or lecture notes. Unless it's expressly not allowed, work together on the open-ended problems, the harder problems, and the unusual problems.
Feel free to see me with any questions you may have about the course material or about how to study and learn effectively. There will probably not be time in class for all questions to be answered, so take advantage of office hours. If you can't come during open office hours, let me know and we'll arrange something.
Students sometimes expect that they should be able to understand every detail the first time they study a text, but that's just not possible. As you study or do homework, if you don't understand something or can't work some problem after giving it a good try, then make a note of it and go on. When you return to it later, you'll be amazed at how many questions will have evaporated.
Mathematics is sometimes thought to be predictable, a collection of techniques and rules--nothing could be further from the truth! Learning techniques is one aspect of learning mathematics, but there are more open-ended, creative aspects as well, just as history is more than a list of dates and music is more than a bunch of notes. Enjoy the surprises!
Keep up regularly, work actively, expect some occasional confusion or frustration, and enjoy what you accomplish. Do feel free to see me with questions.
Have fun!